Massive Skylight Brings New Life to an Old Historic Church in the Spanish Countryside

In the old town of Corbera d’Ebre in Tarragona, Spain, Ferran Vizoso Architecture won a competition to transform an old church to give the community access to the building regardless of the weather. The designer was challenged to improve the building without changing its aged appearance. Therefore, the church was renovated to include a new transparent roof that brings in an abundance of natural light.

Ferran Vizoso designed the renovation of this 1,050 square meter church for the Corbera d’Ebre municipality and the government institution Generalitat de Catalunya. The clients wanted to utilize a transparent EFTE plastic roof to prevent further deterioration from rain, wind, and other climatic conditions. This new roof structure provides the community with a revived multipurpose space that blends nature with the historical ruins.

The massive skylight, which encompasses most of the roof, is a structural intervention that serves to provide an abundance of natural daylight throughout the building. Natural breezes flow through the open windows and archways of the structure and help to ventilate the areas that receive the light. This church has been preserved well by the Ferran Vizoso team, and has given Cobera d’Ebre a space that is both historic and romantic.